York9 FC continues to look and build towards the future.

On Wednesday, Y9 announced that it has signed Max Ferrari to a contract extension in a deal that will keep the talented youngster at the club through the 2022 CPL season, and includes an option for 2023.

Ferrari, a 20-year-old native of Newmarket, Ont., signed his first pro contract with Y9 back in March after making 15 appearances for Aurora FC in 2019, accumulating close to 1,200 minutes of playing time in League1 Ontario.

The box-to-box midfielder made seven appearances (158 minutes in total) at The Island Games in his first CPL season, and often injected some life into Y9’s attack with his speed, deft touch on the ball and dynamic play.

His best moment in PEI came in his CPL debut during York’s opening match vs. Atlético Ottawa, when he entered the game as second-half substitute and went on a brilliant run down the right side before setting up fellow youngster Lowell Wright’s goal.

With his goal for @York9FC, Lowell Wright has become the youngest goal scorer in #CanPL history#Y9vATO l @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/iVlUSrujUy

— CanPL (@CPLsoccer) August 15, 2020

York9’s managing consultant Angus McNab explained the extension was just reward for Ferrari.

“I was so happy to offer Max this new deal because he deserved it,” McNab said in a press release.

“I’m delighted he’s agreed to it. He came into 2020 determined to improve and the fact he appeared in every one of our seven Island Games fixtures was a true reward for all the work he has put in. Max realizes this contract doesn’t make him the finished article just yet and his continued willingness to work hard is a great example to our entire squad.”

Aside from Y9 teammates Morey Doner and Matthew Arnone, other notable players who have moved up from League1 Ontario to make an impact in the CPL include Kadell Thomas (Forge FC), Duran Lee (FC Edmonton) and Lukas MacNaughton (Pacific FC).

League1 Ontario Commissioner Dino Rossi believed it was only a matter of time before Ferrari would land with a CPL side.

“Over the past two years, Max has really developed quite nicely under the tutelage of the excellent technical staff at Aurora FC. In 2019, he made some big strides and it was clear that he had the potential to make the jump to the next level. It’s great to see that it’s happened this quickly,” Rossi said back in March.

Ferrari credited his time in League1 Ontario as preparing him for this next challenge in the CPL.

“It was a big step for me,” Ferrari told CanPL.ca back in April. “I got called up when I was 16-turning-17, played about five games. Then I had my first season when I was 17-turning-18, which was good. I was a regular starter and I got a lot of time on a decent team – we were good – and a lot of guys helped me, especially Morey Doner, my captain. (He played) a big leadership role to me, helped me along the way.

“And then last year I had my second full year of League1. The coaching staff of Mike Aquino, my coach from Humber and Aurora, helped me a lot. Developing maturity on the field, knowing when to run, knowing when to do what and helping my fitness along the way.”